I grew up in a world where what the Bible said meant everything. Our approach to reading the Bible was mostly literal. I say “mostly” because we were selective literalists, choosing which parts to accept at face value and which parts to read aspirationally or metaphorically. Teachings about personal morals and historical descriptions were accepted at face value, but the teachings of Jesus—especially the ethical parts about loving enemies and giving to the poor—were treated as aspirational at best.
Though I’m no longer in that world, I’m still surrounded by it on Facebook feeds and bumper stickers. We are still in the Bible Belt after all. While visiting the mountains in Western North Carolina earlier this summer, Charla and I passed a billboard that said “Jesus is the answer to all your problems.” Puzzled, I turned to Charla and asked, “Can Jesus pay my rent?”
These days I am less interested in what the Bible says and more interested in what the Bible asks. By this I mean that the Bible is not some one-stop answer shop like that billboard claims, but really an unfolding story that we’re invited to participate in. Remember the rich young ruler who knew all the scriptures, believed them, and obeyed them, but still went away downcast? The radical generosity Jesus asked of him was too much for him.
I share my own personal journey of relating to the Bible because each one of us at First on Fifth has their own unique experience with the Bible. Some of you have had a healthy and hopeful way of engaging with the Bible your whole lives. Others have had the Bible used against you in hurtful and harmful ways and you are still navigating what it means to be part of a Christian community that uses multiple Bible readings each week in worship. Some of you are just beginning to read the Bible for yourselves. Seeing this range and need within our congregation, our Adult Ministry Team wanted a series to address how we approach scripture at First on Fifth.
Our Summer Churchwide Sunday School Series this year is called, simply, How to Read the Bible. This series will feature the interactive, creative, and compassionate teaching of Megan Strollo, Kyle Caudle, Emily Hull McGee, and Mary Foskett. We’ll be exploring issues like biblical translation and interpretation, how our personal and communal life is shaped by scripture, the ways the Bible uses questions to deepen our spiritual lives, and how the Bible speaks in and for our current times.
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During the first full week of July, both our kids and youth will be away at camp for a time of recreation, celebration, worship, and Bible study. The kids will be attending PASSPORT kids in Montreat, NC and the youth will be attending PASSPORTchoices in Spartanburg, SC. The theme this year is Vamos/Let’s Go! and the youth and kids will be learning about how God is calling them to run the race of love, hope, and light. Please keep our campers and adult chaperones in prayer. We look forward to sharing what we learn during Youth & Kids Passport Worship on Sunday, July 26.
Let’s Go,
Pastor Kyle
